South Korea demands apology from Ukraine over prisoners of war
Seoul says Kyiv breached a confidentiality agreement by making the transfer of two North Korean prisoners public.
The office of the South Korean president has asked Ukraine for an explanation and an apology over the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war. Seoul says the two countries had agreed to treat the matter confidentially; according to Reuters, Ukraine disputes that such a formal agreement existed.
The two North Korean servicemen were captured in Russia’s Kursk region in 2025, according to earlier reports. Ukraine subsequently transferred them to South Korea. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the transfer on 23 September in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly.
South Korea says Kyiv consulted it in advance about the matter, but that Seoul had asked for the transfer not to be made public. According to the office of President Lee Jae-myung, confidentiality was important for the safety of the prisoners and their family members, as well as for diplomatic and national security.
The dispute is not about the existence of the two prisoners or their arrival in South Korea, but about the arrangements surrounding the announcement. Seoul accuses Ukraine of making the transfer public unilaterally and then denying that a confidentiality agreement existed.
The Ukrainian account differs. According to Reuters, Kyiv denies that there was an agreement on confidentiality. The available public reporting does not show whether the parties attached the same legal meaning to earlier diplomatic consultations and requests for restraint.
The issue is sensitive because the two North Koreans form part of a larger geopolitical story. North Korea supports Russia in its war against Ukraine, while South Korea regards the prisoners as people with a possible connection to the Korean peninsula. International rules on the free will of prisoners of war and their protection also play a role.
South Korea has not yet announced what concrete measures it will take. The dispute could complicate cooperation between Seoul and Kyiv, but the direct consequences remain uncertain. What is clear above all is that a humanitarian transfer has developed into a diplomatic conflict over communication, trust and the protection of those involved.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Two North Korean prisoners of war have been transferred to South Korea.
- Zelensky made the transfer public at the United Nations.
- South Korea and Ukraine disagree over the confidentiality agreement.
Left
Arguments The protection and free choice of the prisoners must be central. Public disclosure must not be used for geopolitical profiling if this puts family members or other North Korean servicemen at risk.
Values Human rights, humanitarian protection and restraint.
Consequences Greater confidentiality can protect lives, but may limit public scrutiny of diplomatic deals.
Centre
Arguments Ukraine and South Korea must clarify the difference between political consultation and a binding confidentiality agreement. An independent diplomatic review could restore trust without turning the prisoners into pawns in a conflict again.
Values Institutional trust, international law and diplomatic diligence.
Consequences A joint explanation could prevent escalation, but would require concessions from both governments.
Right
Arguments Ukraine must be able to communicate clearly about the international consequences of Russia’s war and must not be constrained by unclear diplomatic expectations. South Korea should set out agreements in writing and unambiguously in advance.
Values National security, transparency and the reliability of alliances.
Consequences Greater openness could strengthen support for Ukraine, but could complicate negotiations over prisoners and future transfers.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The core of the diplomatic dispute has been confirmed by KBS, Reuters and SBS. The text presents the secret agreement as a disputed claim and avoids conclusions about Ukraine’s legal liability.
- confirmed South Korea is demanding an explanation and an apology from Ukraine. — Reported by KBS and Reuters. source
- confirmed The matter concerns two North Korean prisoners of war who were transferred to South Korea. — The transfer was previously reported by AP and is confirmed in the new reporting. source
- confirmed Seoul says there was a confidentiality agreement. — This is the official South Korean account, reported by KBS and SBS. source
- confirmed Ukraine disputes that a formal confidentiality agreement existed. — Reuters reports the Ukrainian denial. source
Editor's note
The transfer and South Korea’s demand have been reported by multiple public sources. The precise content and legal status of the alleged confidentiality agreement remain disputed.Sources
- Presidential office demands explanation and apology amid North Korean POW dispute — KBS World
- South Korea demands apology from Ukraine over North Korean POW disclosure — Reuters
- Cheong Wa Dae to Ukraine: POW repatriation non-disclosure agreement breached — SBS News
- South Korea and Ukraine to seek solution for North Korean POWs — SBS News
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „zuid-korea oekraïne”
- NU.nl — „zuid-korea oekraïne”
- De Telegraaf — „zuid-korea oekraïne”